Nanocellulose as a natural source for groundbreaking applications in materials science: Today’s state

Cellulose nanomaterials (CNs) are of increasing interest due to their appealing inherent properties such as bio-degradability, high surface area, light weight, chirality and the ability to form effective hydrogen bonds across the cellulose chains or within other polymeric matrices. Extending CN self-assembly into multiphase polymer structures has led to useful end-results in a wide spectrum of products and countless innovative applications, for example, as reinforcing agent, emulsion stabilizer, barrier membrane and binder. In the current contribution, after a brief description of salient nanocellulose chemical structure features, its types and production methods, we move to recent advances in CN utilization as an ecofriendly binder in several disparate areas, namely formaldehyde-free hybrid composites and wood-based panels, papermaking/coating processes, and energy storage devices, as well as their potential applications in biomedical fields as a cost-effective and tissue-friendly binder for cartilage regeneration, wound healing and dental repair. The prospects of a wide range of hybrid materials that may be produced via nanocellulose is introduced in light of the unique behavior of cellulose once in nano dimensions. Furthermore, we implement some principles of colloidal and interfacial science to discuss the critical role of cellulose binding in the aforesaid fields. Even though the CN facets covered in this study by no means encompass the great amount of literature available, they may be regarded as the basis for future developments in the binder applications of these highly desirable materials.

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Cellulose Nanomaterials—Binding Properties and Applications: A Review

Nanocellulose nanocomposite hydrogels: technological and environmental issues

At present, renewable and biodegradable biocomposites materials have drawn much attention as promising green materials in different domains of application such as intelligent food packaging, biomedical and drug delivery, bio-membranes, automotive, as well as in industrial composting applications. The current review deals with the advances in preparation methods and technical applications of these biocomposites. Different biomass materials obtained from renewable resources such as coffee grounds (CG), nanocellulose and date stones are developed to be used as smart reinforcing agents in biodegradable biopolymers for improving their overall properties. Conversely, some drawbacks are associated with the use of lignocellulosic materials as reinforcing agents, especially their high humidity absorption, poor wettability, and incompatibility with most biopolymers. Thus, novel processing techniques and different aspects are proposed in this review to produce high performance lignocellulosic reinforced materials with better properties. Facial and green modification of organoclay (OC) by antibacterial natural rosin and stearic acid to obtain toxicity-free expanded OC is also discussed. Green modification using OC can also be used as compatibilizing and reinforcing material for different incompatible biopolymers such as chitosan, carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) and polylactic acid (PLA). Ultimately, the future vision on the challenges and the environmental issues towards CO2 emission which is associated to the risk assessment of these bionanomaterials are also discussed.

Eco-friendly polymer composites for green packaging: Future vision and challenges

Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer on earth, providing a sustainable green resource that is renewable, degradable, biocompatible, and cost effective. Recently, nanocellulose-based mesoporous structures, flexible thin films, fibers, and networks are increasingly developed and used in photovoltaic devices, energy storage systems, mechanical energy harvesters, and catalysts components, showing tremendous materials science value and application potential in many energy-related fields. In this Review, the most recent advancements of processing, integration, and application of cellulose nanomaterials in the areas of solar energy harvesting, energy storage, and mechanical energy harvesting are reviewed. For solar energy harvesting, promising applications of cellulose-based nanostructures for both solar cells and photoelectrochemical electrodes development are reviewed, and their morphology-related merits are discussed. For energy storage, the discussion is primarily focused on the applications of cellulose-based nanomaterials in lithium-ion batteries, including electrodes (e.g., active materials, binders, and structural support), electrolytes, and separators. Applications of cellulose nanomaterials in supercapacitors are also reviewed briefly. For mechanical energy harvesting, the most recent technology evolution in cellulose-based triboelectric nanogenerators is reviewed, from fundamental property tuning to practical implementations. At last, the future research potential and opportunities of cellulose nanomaterials as a new energy material are discussed.

Cellulose-Based Nanomaterials for Energy Applications

Cellulose nanomaterials have a number of interesting and unique properties that make them well-suited for use in electronics applications such as energy harvesting devices, actuators and sensors. Cellulose nanofibrils and nanocrystals have good mechanical properties, high transparency, and low coefficient of thermal expansion, among other properties that facilitate both active and inactive roles in electronics and related devices. For example, these nanomaterials have been demonstrated to operate as substrates for flexible electronics and displays, to improve the efficiency of photovoltaics, to work as a component of magnetostrictive composites and to act as a suitable lithium ion battery separator membrane. A discussion and overview of additional potential applications and of previously published research using cellulose nanomaterials for these advanced applications is provided in this article. The concept of using cellulose nanofibrils in stimuli-responsive materials is illustrated with highlights of preliminary results from magnetostrictive nanocellulose membranes actuated using magnetic fields.

https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2016/fpl_2016_sabo001.pdf

Nanocellulose-enabled electronics, energy harvesting devices, smart materials and sensors: a review

Magnetostrictive composite known as magnetostrictive nanocellulose membrances (MNMs) were fabricated by embedding Terfeonol-D particles into cellulose nanofibers (CNF). MNMs inherit flexibility and biodegradability from CNF while exhibiting magnetomechanical responses; as such, the valuable rare-earth (Terfenol-D) particles can be recycled. Various orientations of the Terfenol-D particles were induced in the MNMs, and those with in-plane alignment showed the strongest magnetostrictive effect but the lowest Villari effect. Materials with such a unique combination of properties dovetail nicely with Internet of Things that require ubiquitous sensing, actuation and energy harvesting in one package.

/pdf/flexible-magnetostrictive-nanocellulose-membranes-for-208lftwwon.pdf

Aleksey Yermakov

Papers

Nanocellulose-enabled electronics, energy harvesting devices, smart materials and sensors: a review

Flexible Magnetostrictive Nanocellulose Membranes for Actuation, Sensing and Energy Harvesting Applications